Explore DayZ's Largest and Most Dangerous Map in Badlands Expansion

Think zombies are scary enough? DayZ’s new Badlands expansion drops you into a tough desert to make things even harder.

Do you ever play DayZ and feel like it's not hard enough? Or maybe you're just tired of the same old map and want something new. That’s where the game’s new expansion Badlands comes in. It's coming next year and will take you to a hot dry desert. In this new area the heat and lack of water can kill you just as easily as the zombies.

Also Read: Eve Online’s New Survival Spinoff Is Free But Only for a Limited Time

DayZ is a zombie survival game that started as a mod for Arma 2. It’s all about trying to stay alive in a world filled with danger. Of course there are zombies. But just like in zombie movies they’re not the only threat. You also have to worry about getting hurt starving or being killed by other players who are often even more dangerous than the undead.

Now the game's developer Bohemia Interactive has revealed the new expansion Badlands which is set in a place called Nasdara Province. That might sound like a cool vacation spot but it’s not. It’s a dry war-damaged desert where water is very hard to find and surviving will be extremely tough.

The new Badlands expansion for DayZ features a huge 267 km² map and is completely different from the cold and snowy Frostline update. Instead of ice and snow Badlands brings a hot and dry desert environment. Players will have to deal with droughts new types of landscapes fresh weapons and more exciting content.

There will also be new types of infected enemies. Even though it's so hot these infected aren’t weak or slow. Just like in Frostline they have adapted to the environment and are still very dangerous. If you get bitten it might be harder to find the right supplies or medical gear to heal yourself which makes survival even more difficult.

Maybe these tough new conditions will make players work together more. But let’s be honest in the world of DayZ people are just as dangerous as the infected. Like the quote from Dawn of the Dead says When the dead walk señores we must stop the killing or lose the war. But let’s face it you’ll probably get killed over a potato.

The Badlands expansion is expected to launch in 2026. Until then if you haven’t tried DayZ yet now is a good time. It’s currently 50% off on Steam so you can get it for $24.99 / £24.49.